US4530543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic wheel having an annular bearing support
Assignee: Matsushita Floor Care Co
•
Filing: 1983-09-26
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Granted: 1985-07-23
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Expires: 2003-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A wheeled support structure for use in a vacuum cleaner or the like. The wheeled support structure includes a wheel mount on the body of the vacuum cleaner defining an outwardly opening recess having an inwardly facing lock surface. The wheel mount further defines a fixed annular bearing surface coaxially of the recess and spaced radially outwardly therefrom for journaling the wheeled support slidably concentrically mounted thereon. The wheel further includes a latch element extending inwardly through the recess and having turned latch shoulders arranged to be disposed inwardly of the lock surface for preventing axially outward removal of the latch element, thereby maintaining the wheel mounting surface slidably mounted on the bearing surface of the vacuum cleaner support wall.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Keane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:31
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L9/00; A47L9/009; B; B60; B60B; B60B37/00; B60B37/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
For use in vacuum cleaners and the like having a body adapted to be moved over a floor surface, an improved wheeled support structure comprising: a wheel mount on the body defining an outwardly opening recess having an inwardly facing annular lock surface, and means defining an annular bearing surface coaxially of said recess; and a wheel having a resiliently deflectible latch element extending inwardly through said recess and having turned latch shoulder means arranged to be disposed inwardly of said annular lock surface for preventing axially outward removal of said latch element from said recess, and a wheel support defining an annular radially inwardly facing mounting surface slidably concentrically carried on said bearing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
For use in vacuum cleaners and the like having a body adapted to be moved over a floor surface, an improved wheeled support structure comprising: a wheel mount on the body defining an outwardly opening recess having an inwardly facing annular lock surface, and means defining an annular bearing surface coaxially of said recess; and a wheel having a resiliently deflectible latch element extending inwardly through said recess and having turned latch shoulder means arranged to be disposed inwardly of said annular lock surface for preventing axially outward removal of said latch element from said recess, and a wheel support defining an annular radially inwardly facing mounting surface slidably concentrically carried on said bearing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wheeled support structure of claim 1 wherein said bearing surface means is fixedly disposed on said wheel mount.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
For use in vacuum cleaners and the like having a body adapted to be moved over a floor surface, an improved wheeled support structure comprising: a wheel mount on the body defining an outwardly opening recess having an inwardly facing annular lock surface, and means defining a fixed annular bearing surface coaxially of said recess; and a wheel having a resilient deflectible latch element extending inwardly through said recess and having turned latch shoulder means arranged to be disposed inwardly of said annular lock surface for preventing axially outward removal of said latch element from said recess, and a wheel support defining an annular radially inwardly facing mounting surface slidably concentrically carried on said bearing surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
For use in vacuum cleaners and the like having a body adapted to be moved over a floor surface, an improved wheeled support structure comprising: a wheel mount on the body defining an outwardly opening recess having an inwardly facing annular lock surface, and means defining a fixed annular bearing surface coaxially of said recess; and a wheel having a resilient deflectible latch element extending inwardly through said recess and having turned latch shoulder means arranged to be disposed inwardly of said annular lock surface for preventing axially outward removal of said latch element from said recess, and a wheel support defining an annular radially inwardly facing mounting surface slidably concentrically carried on said bearing surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said latch shoulder means is segmentally annular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein the wheel mount structure defining said recess, lock surface, and bearing surface comprises a unitary integral structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel is formed of a synthetic resin having a hardness such as the hardness of polypropylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel is formed of a material having a hardness such as the hardness of polypropylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel is formed of polypropylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said latch element has a preselected clearance with said wheel mount in said recess.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel mount recess comprises a through bore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel mount is formed integrally with said body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel support is formed integrally with said wheel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel support is spaced radially outwardly from said latch element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The wheeled support structure of claims 1 or 3 wherein said wheel mount and said wheel support define cooperating limit surfaces limiting the inward displacement of said latch element in said recess.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-22 | 1989-01-21 | 1989-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-22 | 1993-01-21 | 1993-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-22 | 1997-01-21 | 1997-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |